October 2008 Archives

The second presidential debate, held on Tuesday, October 7th, was more of the same.  Barack Obama is a calm, logical alternative to disastrous Republican economic and foreign policy.  John McCain is a fiery, experienced foreign policy heavyweight who is sure about American exceptionalism. 

The one new thing that I came away with is a better understanding of why so many people say that McCain is at his best in the town hall format. He performed much better this time around, didn't come across as so much of an angry little man (could hardly have been worse than the first time) and he was able to counter Obama's reason with a fist-pumping, cheerleading simplicity that, I guess, goes over great among certain voters that I won't pretend to understand.  

So, I wonder, why does he bring his A-game to the town hall and not to a regular debate?

 When thinking about John McCain, I have only one frame of reference: my nannah. 

I think Los Angeles looks more like Lagos, Douala or Mexico City than San Francisco, New York or Seattle.  It's hard for me to explain to someone who hasn't been to Douala just how much this city is more like one in the developing world or southern hemisphere or whatever term besides third world (societies are not in a race; what we have in this country is not what other countries are working toward; first world and third world are stupid categories) you want to use.

But I'll try.